Wendel, a nationally recognized design, construction and energy services company (ESCO), is pleased to announce the recent acquisition of Architectural Design Group, LLC (ADG), a leader in architectural design and planning in Wisconsin, to enhance its service offering and market reach in the Midwest United States.

ADG’s expertise encompasses healthcare and educational facilities, as well as municipal and public safety services. United by a common culture, Wendel and ADG share a commitment of customer service, collaboration, and sustainable and energy efficient design. Together we have delivered excellence in the fields of architecture, design and construction for over 100 years.

In addition to acquiring ADG, Wendel is also gaining Five Bugles, ADG’s planning and design services division focused solely on the public safety service industry. Five Bugles will become a division of Wendel, retaining its brand and commitment to public safety and emergency services in the Midwest. Wendel plans to take the design expertise Five Bugles brings to all locations across the U.S. where Wendel has a presence.

The expansion to Eau Claire, Wisconsin represents Wendel’s growing geographic footprint and complements the company’s existing presence in nearby Minneapolis, MN, as well as all of the regions where Wendel operates. Joining the Wendel team are 22 staff, including Principals Steve Gausman, AIA, NCARB, David Kimball, AIA, CSI, CCS and David Cihasky, AIA.

“We are truly excited about the growth Wendel is experiencing nation-wide,” said Stewart Haney, President & CEO. “Acquiring ADG and Five Bugles increases our capabilities in the strategic areas that align with our current and future growth plans.”

“Joining forces was a natural fit,” said Steve Gausman, AIA, NCARB. “With Wendel’s deep customer relationships, strong brand, innovative design solutions and a recognized portfolio of best-in-class projects across the nation, we will be able to deliver additional services and added value to our clients as well as provide new opportunities for our employees as part of a larger company.”

When asked to write on the future of terminal design, I found the challenge daunting as well as thought provoking. When I am designing, my goal is to design a building that is both functional for and attractive to future generations. To design a building whose function must adapt to a rapidly evolving world, designed with new, smarter technology is even more challenging. A transit center must adapt to an evolving population of travelers, the vehicles that transport them, new fuels, maintenance needs, real-time communication technologies, geographic impacts and more.
I reached out to several transit design experts on my staff and here is what I heard:

What are the biggest challenges in designing a facility?

When designing a transit facility our goal is to design a building that can physically last for 50 years before needing major renovations. However, anticipating the potential program changes in transit vehicles
and user requirements is a significant challenge for the designer. With the rate of technological advancement, designing 50 years in the future is an almost impossible task.

In addition to technological changes, it is also important to understand that transit riders now want a very personalized experience. Two examples of which are the Heathrow Pod and Morgantown Personal Rapid Transit (PRT). These driverless vehicles provide an intimate mode of transportation. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is also changing the look of transit, leading to smaller but more frequent transit stations providing a faster, more frequent service for the rider.

These alternate modes of transit are differentiated from the typical fixed route bus system that is currently determining transit facilities. Trying to provide flexibility for all the new future modes will prove to be the biggest challenge in the future. Provided by: Sean Beachy, architect

What design considerations do you find exciting to contemplate?

The design of a future intermodal facility is less about the passenger waiting and more about the passenger experience. I think you will see these facilities become more like an airport with shops, retail, restaurants – places that people want to use as well as it being a multimodal center.

The large, static passenger waiting areas of the past do not serve people well – it needs to be active, vibrant, and useful while still providing waiting areas for transit users.
For example, colleges would not have just a transfer station; it would be a transfer station, a student union, a coffee shop and more.

In the deep inner cities, the station could house government functions providing social services. Provided by:Ron Reekes, southeast regional manager

Transportation Center Design

From an architecture standpoint, the look of the transfer station is what is going to draw in people. For people to choose to ride transit – there must be appeal – aesthetics, amenities, ease of use and helpful technologies. Safety, security, and atmosphere are incredibly important, but ultimately people have to know stops exist where they want to go. Provide by: Jeana Stright, architect

What is happening right now?

The future, in a word, is flexibility. Dealing with the next generation of vehicles and vehicle types. The intermodal facility of tomorrow will accommodate many more modes than we have right now. Intermodals of the future will need to facilitate other modes such as heavy, light and commuter rail, and even high-speed rail, while remaining pedestrian friendly, accommodating significant bicycle use, and rideshare connectivity. Provided by: David Duchscherer, PE

How will new fueling options affect transit center design?

There is an accelerating trend for electricity to be the prime energy source. The impact on transportation terminals will be hubs for generator power (solar, wind, pavement motion, dynamic thermal change) for on-site consumption and for export to utilities. Potential exists to provide charging for large and small vehicles including fixedroute buses, paratransit vehicles, private cars, bikes and trikes, and commercial vehicles. Provided by: Phil Muse, architect
In addition to electric fueling, hybrid, CNG and ultimately hydrogen fueled buses will certainly factor into the mix. The variety of future fueling possibilities will require more flexibility and foresight in the design of transportation terminals to allow for a mix of fuel usage at the same terminal. Provided by: John Havrilla, director of alternative fueling services

What are some of the trends and technologies you see influencing the future of transit center design?

Generational and social trends will greatly influence the future of transit center design. One of the more intriguing current trends is how the millennial generation prefers to take transit because it is sustainable and elevates their quality of life by increasing their social interaction in person and through technology. Since each generation has its own unique characteristics and expectations, it will be interesting to see what future generations expect in the way of mobility and travel. Keeping in step with those expectations and desires will be key in designing future transit centers they will want to use.

So what does all this mean? The transit center of the future will be a living, social organism that will be technology-based and need to have ultimate flexibility as it grows, evolves, and morphs, much like people do. It will be expected to enhance our quality of life through sustainable principles as transportation systems and vehicles get us to where we need to go. The possibilities are exciting to contemplate.

Transit agencies transition from traditional diesel bus fleets to fleets powered by alternative fuels because these vehicles offer improved operational efficiencies, reductions in the carbon footprint, and a reduction in daily operating costs.

Not only are alternative fuel powered buses more efficient, their use improves the perception of bus transit in the cities and communities in which they operate. Today’s fully electric-powered vehicles save on fuel costs and emit no particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, or carbon dioxide. This makes them especially suitable for use in densely populated urban environments and are available in more weight-classes and applications than ever before. CNG buses also have proven successful in reducing fuel costs and carbon emissions. Compressed natural gas is one of the cleanest-burning alternative fuels available with near-zero emissions.

While most fleet operators understand the benefits of switching to alternative fuels, many operators are not experienced with the facility, site, and safety requirements necessary to fuel, store and maintain the new buses. Read on for some key considerations that will help as you plan the fueling and maintenance facilities for your new alternate power fleet.

Siting Your Fueling Facility

Here are a few things to consider when siting your fueling or charging station:

Common Fuel Considerations:

Service and maintenance requirements

Understand your current bus movements and how they could be impacted by vehicles needing alternative fuel

Planning for operational impacts

Option to fuel onsite and/or offsite

Public understanding of the proposed operations

Creating a partnership with local fire departments and emergency responders

Need for safety training

Additional CNG Considerations:

Need for adequate NG supply and pressure

Do you want/need to provide public fueling

Is indoor fueling a requirement

High rate of fill (Fast fill) vs low rate of fill (Time fill)

Regulations on defueling (Prior to maintenance)

Noise assessment (CNG Compressors, dryers)

Additional Electric Considerations:

Potential utility upgrades and demand charges

Noise assessments, electric generators

Remote charging stations and locations

A Public and Private Fueling Station

For a recent fueling station project for Metro Bus in St. Cloud, MN, the agency selected an initial outdoor location on the site close to the existing diesel fueling lanes for both the public and private fueling stations. The decision to include private and potential public fueling opportunities on a limited site footprint required the agency to conduct a thorough site review process.

Metro Bus private fueling looking NW

Sensing that the originally selected location could be problematic, an “immersion process” assessed the pros and cons of that location, additional options for site layout, and addressed engineering and life safety considerations. This process brought the stakeholders and end users together to voice their needs, concerns, and issues before the start of design. This process was extremely beneficial and convening this discussion right at the project site enabled the team to collect and discuss programming information in real time.

What Are the Options for Indoor Fueling?

Indoor fueling facilities are rare in the industry. The capital costs associated with the mitigation measures required to comply with current codes for compressed natural gas indoor fueling are high. While an advantage, especially in the harsh northern climates, the cost to retrofit facilities to meet current code levels can be prohibitive. Implementing an indoor fueling option on a new facility is much less costly, but it still carries a premium.

Metro Bus chose a fueling station location that was the best fit for their current bus movement. The components of the project included a compressor island, public and private fast fill fueling stations, and a dramatic canopy facing the interstate. The canopy design provides a “billboard or front door sign” for the bus company and helps to advertise the public CNG fueling option.

Final Considerations

When considering an alternative fuel strategy keep in mind the potential impact of this decision in five major areas of your operation: 1) the vehicles, 2) the fueling infrastructure, 3) the maintenance facility requirements, 4) the operator, and 5) maintenance training required. A successful alternative fuel program should thoroughly evaluate and plan for each of these five components. All too often one or more of these components are overlooked and the impact to the overall program can be significant.

Planning Your Facility

In view of the fact that alternative fuels are here to stay, it is important that transit agencies and operators build on the lessons learned of other agencies and seek to gain a full understanding of the issues and benefits of incorporating alternative fuel vehicles into their fleets. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel as you can easily build on the experiences of other agencies and designers who have already tackled these problems.